Allegany State Park — Red House Area
Make Red House Lake your base for western New York forest and recreation.
Artwork inspired by J. J. Lankes
Allegany State Park is New York's largest state park, with two developed areas; this discovery focuses on Red House rather than pretending the whole 65,000 acres share one entrance. The Red House Lake area gathers a beach, paved bicycle routes, rentals, and a Tudor-style administration building with a natural-history museum.
Begin at the lake and administration building if you want an easy orientation, then decide whether to stay by the water or drive to a separate trailhead. Swimming, boat rental, camping, and the museum follow different seasonal arrangements. The park is open year-round, while the vehicle charge is collected in selected warm-weather periods. Reserve campsites in advance; walk-up camping is not accepted.
- Park size
- About 65,000 acres
- Area
- Red House, not Quaker
- Entry
- Seasonal car fee
Quick guide
- Start at Red House Lake
- The administration building and museum orient you to the park.
- Book camping ahead
- The park requires reservations rather than walk-up campground stays.
Know before you go
- See the lake
- Follow the paved route for an accessible-feeling first impression.
- Enter the museum
- Learn how the region's landscape and park developed.
- Choose one excursion
- Trailheads and other features are spread across the park.
- Check the season
- Beach and rental operations do not match year-round park access.
Good to know
The map listing identifies the Red House Area; individual trailheads and cabins have different access points.
Notice these
- Red House Lake
- Tudor-style administration building
- forest roads